The Boston Celtics aimed for a series sweep in Dallas on Friday but were handed a resounding defeat. On Monday night in Boston, however, they bounced back with an emphatic victory, securing their 18th NBA title at home.
The TD Garden crowd erupted as the Celtics took control early and maintained their lead, ultimately defeating the Mavericks 106-88.
This championship win comes 16 years to the day since Boston’s last title in 2008, when the Big Three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Ray Allen led the Celtics to victory, their first since 1986.
Celtics Fans Celebrate Banner 18
By beating the Mavericks in Game 5, the Celtics claimed their historic 18th NBA title, breaking a tie with the rival Los Angeles Lakers for the most championships in NBA history.
BANNER 18 🏆 pic.twitter.com/cp0FnHez57
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) June 18, 2024
Jayson Tatum, often scrutinized for his playoff performances, delivered an outstanding game with a series-high 31 points, 11 assists, eight rebounds, and two steals.
Jaylen Brown, named Finals MVP, was a consistent force throughout the series, scoring 21 points in each of Boston’s wins and a notable 30-point performance in Game 3. He added 21 points on Monday.
“It was a full team effort, and I share this with my brothers, and my partner in crime, Jayson Tatum — he was with me the whole way,” Brown said after receiving the MVP award. “I’ve been grateful for every moment, every opportunity.”
When asked about celebrating a championship alongside Brown, Tatum responded, “It means the world. This has been a long time coming, and damn, it was worth it.”
This championship marks the first for Tatum and Brown, as well as for second-year head coach Joe Mazzulla. It was also a momentous occasion for center Al Horford, who has been in the league since 2007.
“It’s been long, a lot of hard work, but I’m so proud to be part of this team,” Horford said. “I can’t believe it. This is just how I pictured it. Here at the Garden, with our fans, everybody together, this is just how I saw it eight years ago.”
‘Anything is possible!’ Celtics Fans Thrilled with Title
The streets of Boston were filled with jubilant fans celebrating the Celtics’ 18th championship.
Luka Dončić led the Mavericks with 28 points, while Kyrie Irving, who scored 15, was limited to under 20 points in three games of the series. Despite his contentious departure from Boston, Irving approached the Celtics’ bench to offer his congratulations as the game concluded.
“We finally ran into a team where they beat us fair and square, and we weren’t able to respond to a lot of their runs and we weren’t able to execute at a high level,” Irving said post-game. “So when I was shaking everybody’s hands, that was more of a sign of respect for their journey. They have been through an incredible five-year span of going to Game 7s or losing in the Finals, so they know what this bitter feeling feels like being up here answering questions about what this next year holds and I think they used everything as motivation.”
Boston’s streets were alive with celebration Monday night, with fans eagerly awaiting the announcement of the official championship parade.
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